Strike 'can still be avoided'

PROFESSIONAL Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor still "lives in hope" a players' strike can be avoided - although will know later today whether such a threat is closer to becoming reality....

PROFESSIONAL Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor still "lives in hope" a players' strike can be avoided - although will know later today whether such a threat is closer to becoming reality.

Following yesterday's meeting between Taylor and Premier League counterpart Richard Scudamore at the PFA's Manchester headquarters there would appear to be little hope of an imminent resolution.

Scudamore is due to discuss with his fellow board members today the PFA's claim for a 5% stake of the #1.5billion television deal the Premier League recently negotiated with Sky and ITV.

With the league offering only 1% industrial action is on the cards, and despite Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood and Leeds supremo Peter Ridsdale vowing to dock the wages of their players if they do strike, that seems to have cut little ice.

Gunners skipper Tony Adams is just one of the high-profile names to side with the PFA, with Taylor grateful for the show of support from such a well-respected player.

"It's a source of comfort when you hear players like Tony Adams are backing us," stated Taylor, who will be informed of the Premier League's response from Scudamore this afternoon.

"But you have to remember the PFA is for the players and works for the players. It is their organisation, and I know they are very appreciative of the work that we, as a union, do for them.

"Obviously, the last thing we want to do is to go on strike. But I have made it clear that we have been left with no alternative whatsoever.

"We have no quarrel with the broadcasting companies because they did a deal in good faith with the Premier League, Football League and the Football Association.

"They expected those bodies to commit to a fair deal with us and we don't consider that we have had a fair deal at the moment, but we can live in hope."

Taylor concedes, though, he and Scudamore are "a long way from middle ground", so any prospect of the Premier League proposing a solution is unlikely to materialise.

Asked whether he was optimistic following his meeting with Scudamore, Taylor said: "It's no use saying I'm optimistic - it would be unfair to say that.

"Everybody is aware of the gap between us, knows the argument and knows that we have been in the business of looking for a fair proportion (of the television money), which has never been less than 5%.

"But no matter how you wrap it up their offer has always been 1%. Even the most conservative estimates would suggest the Premier League and Football League combined will receive over #400million a year over the next three years.

"The offer to us, in proportion, is minimal. So I stand by our right to television money and our right to take industrial action.

"We have not gone down this route because we have wanted to, but because we have been forced to and that's the reality of the situation."